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Friday, March 28, 2014

Wedding Traditions: The Bride's Four "Somethings"

The traditional rhyme which details what a bride should wear at her wedding for good luck...

Something Old,

Something New,

Something Borrowed,

Something Blue,

...has been honored by brides since before anyone can remember. Do you know the meaning behind this tradition, or where it comes from?

It is often recited as the four "somethings", not including the sixpence part. The rhyme appears to originate in England, an 1898 compilation of English folklore that explains:

The 'something blue' usually takes the form of a garter or an article of dress which plays an important part in some wedding rites.

The 'something old' and 'something blue' are devices to baffle the Evil Eye. The usual effect on the bride of the Evil Eye is to render her barren and this is adds to the reason for 'something borrowed', which should properly be the undergarment of some woman who has been blessed with children: the clothes communicate fertility to the bride.

The 'something new' represents the new life of the bride.

Over the years the symbolism have changed to new meaning for the iconic phrases. 'Something old' represents continuity; 'something new' offers optimism for the future; something borrowed symbolized borrowed happiness; and something blue stands for purity, love, and fidelity. Out of all the good luck charms the 'something blue' is the most fun, let's see how brides interpret something blue for their wedding day:

Have the groom don your something blue

photo courtesy of burnettsboards.com

Get a temporary tattoo in blue:

photo courtesy of brides.com

Have you brides made sign the bottom of your shoes with a sweet message in blue:

photo courtesy of lovely bride.com

However you decide to wear your something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue, don't stress to much about where they have to be. Remember it's the brides day, and your somethings can be anything the bride wants them to be.